Retailers hunt Maritime clients

Jim Hnatiuk looks over one of his guns inside his hunting and fishing supply store in Lantz on Monday. (RYAN TAPLIN / Staff)

Two major American outdoor gear retailers, Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’s Inc.,have big plans for the Maritimes that will begin with massive big-box stores opening soon in Moncton.

However, the pending openings of these big-box stores New Brunswick, just a couple of hours away, has not stalled expansion plans at Hnatiuks Hunting Supply Store in Lantz, said the founder and co-owner.

“There is a bit of a wow factor for outdoor enthusiasts when they visit one of these big stores for the first time,” Jim Hnatiuk said Monday. “I’ve visited a number of them in my travels and I’m not losing any sleep.

“It’s not like we’ve not had competition before. Canadian Tire and Walmart sell some hunting and angling supplies. Our customers expect more expertise than is available at these big stores.”

An expansion of Hnatiuks retail and training side of the business, which employs about 12 people, is awaiting some required municipal permits.

The plan is to break ground before Christmas on an expansion that will add some retail space and include a fully automated, seven-lane underground firing range that meets specifications of police and government enforcement agencies.

Hnatiuk said he opened his business as a taxidermy shop about 38 years ago and started offering hunting and fishing supplies about 10 years ago.

There was considerable buzz among outdoor enthusiasts last week as word circulated about Cabela’s plans to open a 50,000-square-foot store in Moncton in 2015.

The store will be in a new development by Cordova Realty near the intersection of Mapleton Parkway and the Trans-Canada Highway.

“Thousands of outdoors men and women across New Brunswick have supported Cabela’s through our catalogues and website for many, many years,” Tommy Millner, Cabela’s chief executive officer, said in a news release.

The store, the United States chain’s fifth in Canada, is to feature thousands of quality outdoor products and include a mountain replica, museum-quality wildlife displays and an indoor archery range, said a news release.

Bass Pro Shops, an outdoor retailer specializing in hunting, fishing, camping and other related outdoor recreation gear, announced about a month ago it would open its fourth Canadian store in Moncton.

The U.S. chain said a specific store address and timeline for construction were to be announced in the future.

A news release said the new 110,000-square-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store will be a regional destination, capable of drawing from more than 1.2 million people living within a three-hour drive of Moncton.

“This area offers some of Canada’s best hunting and fishing opportunities,” Johnny Morris, founder of Bass Pro Shops, said in the release.

Bass Pro Shops and Cabela’shave aggressive expansion plans that include new stores throughout the U.S. and in Canada.

Hnatiuk said his little business is part of a network of similar operations around Nova Scotia that have little to fear from the big-box retailers of outdoor gear.

“We have a great relationship with our customer base and know those customers will stay with us for the service and expertise they’ve come to expect.”